Da Tang Si Zi: My Six Super Rich Little Nuggets!

Chapter 337 Court Farce: Li Linfu Digs a Trap, Little Si Enjoys the Show

In the twenty-fifth year of the Kaiyuan era, a drama more thrilling than any palace intrigue unfolded in the Tang Dynasty court.

Emperor Xuanzong of Tang was completely fooled by Li Linfu, and Crown Prince Li Ying, Prince E Li Yao, and Prince Guang Li Ju were all "demoted" and reduced to commoners. The imperial son-in-law Xue Xiu also suffered the same fate and was exiled to Rangzhou, where he couldn't even get a proper meal on the way.

Even more outrageous, not long after, the three princes were ordered to commit suicide. The onlookers in Chang'an were shocked, and the streets and alleys were filled with exclamations of "This is too cruel!"

Before the gossip about the "three commoners" was even over, Xu Qiao, the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, started stirring things up. He solemnly reported to Emperor Xuanzong: "Your Majesty! The Dali Temple prison used to be so murderous that it could scare away even the birds. But now, with only fifty-eight death sentences handed down a year, magpies are flocking here to build their nests!"

Upon hearing this, the court officials immediately launched into a frenzy of congratulatory petitions, extolling the event as a symbol of the Tang Dynasty's golden age. Emperor Xuanzong, delighted, readily bestowed upon Li Linfu the title of Duke of Jin. Li Linfu's victory was no accident; so who was the mastermind behind it all?

In this grand drama, how could we forget Xiao Sizi stirring up trouble behind the scenes? She was like a "cute doll-shaped calculator," knowing Li Linfu's likes and dislikes better than her own family. She bribed servants to send him calligraphy and paintings and to pass on celestial information known to the Imperial Observatory, making Li Linfu dizzy with delight and thinking he had met a "child prodigy and confidant."

In the twenty-sixth year of the Kaiyuan era, with the death of Consort Wu Hui, the position of Crown Prince became a highly sought-after prize. Li Linfu was single-mindedly focused on promoting Prince Shou, Li Mao, to the throne, constantly nagging Emperor Xuanzong about it. Of course, he also did his homework behind the scenes...

However, Li Longji took a liking to Prince Zhong, Li Yu, and with the strong support of Gao Lishi, Li Yu eventually became the crown prince, who later became Li Heng.

Xiao Sizi was stirring up trouble on both sides, feigning regret in front of Li Linfu while simultaneously sending intelligence to Li Heng, having a great time every day.

During the Tianbao era, Li Linfu's power, indeed under the "blessing" of Xiao Sizi of the Imperial Observatory, continued to gain Li Longji's trust, "expanding" to an unbridled degree.

In the tenth year of the Tianbao era, he simultaneously held the titles of Grand Protector of Anxi, Military Governor of Shuofang, and Deputy Grand Protector of the Xiongnu, a number so many that they could circle Chang'an three times. Upon hearing the news, Xiao Sizi inwardly complained that Li Linfu's "desire for officialdom was greater than his desire for food," while simultaneously plotting how to profit from the situation.

She used the same trick again, having a servant deliver a precious painting to Li Linfu. The painting depicted a fat man wearing many official hats, his gait swaying precariously under their weight. Li Linfu found it particularly amusing and was delighted with it, unaware that it was Xiao Sizi subtly mocking his excessive concentration of power.

In the eleventh year of the Tianbao era, Li Linfu began causing trouble again. He was preoccupied with the fact that civil officials had risen to the position of prime minister as border generals during the Kaiyuan era, and fearing for his own position, he devised a brilliant, albeit flawed, plan—he went to Emperor Xuanzong and feigned distress: "Your Majesty, civil officials who become generals tremble with fear on the battlefield. How can they compare to the commoners and barbarians! The barbarians are fierce warriors, and the commoners have no powerful backers in the court. They don't form cliques, which is much more suitable for them!" Emperor Xuanzong, finding this reasonable, adopted his suggestion.

When Xiao Sizi learned of this, she almost spat out the tea in her mouth. She knew perfectly well that Li Linfu was digging a hole for himself and planting a "super bomb" for the Tang Dynasty. If An Lushan were to cause trouble in the future, this matter would definitely be involved.

But she also understood that no one could stop the wheels of history, so she simply continued to use Li Linfu. She secretly contacted several officials who had conflicts with Li Linfu, revealing his plans to them and embellishing the story by saying that Li Linfu intended to seize power and trample everyone else underfoot. Upon hearing this, these officials immediately became dissatisfied with Li Linfu and began to sabotage him in court, while Xiao Sizi watched this drama unfold from the shadows, plotting how to "stir things up" next to achieve her "plan."

With Xiao Sizi's encouragement, Li Linfu became even more powerful, and he became increasingly convinced of Xiao Sizi's "divine intervention."